A review of Paul McCartney at Glastonbury - Was Macca's Glastonbury pyramid stage set one of the greatest headline performances ever?

almost 2 years ago

Introduction - Most critics say yes - 100,000 people gathered to watch him and his talented band - it was the biggest Pyramid stage attendance alongside the Rolling Stones in 2013.

Poster

Review

Macca was joined on stage for a duet by John Lennon - a film of him, from the Apple rooftop sessions, synced up with Paul and his band by Lord of the Rings director, Peter Jackson.
“See, we are back together again,” said McCartney, in one of his oddly charming and slightly strange quips. The audience roared approval.

The band are amazing - fantastic musicians, they all know exactly what to do, especially drummer Abraham Laboriel Jr - more technical than Ringo but still happy to play Ringo's parts with great enthusiasm.There was a dramatic pyrotechnics display through Live and Let Die and mass sing-alongs to Let It Be and Hey Jude, while Paul guided the crowd.

Some festival-goers camped out all day to get close to the Pyramid stage
.y 9pm, half an hour before McCartney appeared, it became impossible to get anywhere near the front, as masses of people packed in from all corners of the 900 acre site.

There were many positive reactions from those that were there. These are some I found online.
The Guardian's Alexis Petridis said McCartney’s biggest hits are “about as thrilling as pop music gets,” while The Independent described Macca as “by far and away the best writer seen on the Pyramid stage in 30 years of Glastonbury”. The Sunday Telegraph wrote, the set as “one of the most thrilling, uplifting, banger-filled, star-studded this 50-plus-year-old festival had ever seen”.

McCartney, had turned 80 the week before - this made him the oldest headliner in Glastonbury’s 52-year history.
“It exceeded all expectations,” said festival goer Richard Martin, 75.
“Although Paul's almost my age, I’ve never seen the Beatles – my wife was one of those screaming teenagers – but he just nailed it. He was brilliant. Of course he’s a pro – he’s been at it for half a century. People behind us were in their 20's and they knew the songs backwards – that’s terrific testimony to the durability of the songs.”
“It was incredible. Musically it was up there with one of the most seminal moments of my life,” said James Jack, 35. He said it fulfilled his childhood dream: “I watched Beatle films with my dad when I was about six so this was a boyish moment for me, it really got me going. It’s the sort of thing you tell your grand kids about.”
“It was phenomenal,” said 25-year-old Sorcha Ingram. “I had the time of my life. I’ve never experienced anything like it. I was obsessed with the Beatles when I was younger, it’s where my music taste stems from. This was the first time I’d watched him, and my first time at Glastonbury. It’s a historic moment, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”
“He’s a proper legend,” said Keith Burnet, 59. “He actually did a really good gig that covered his whole career at his own time and pace. The NME said he threw “absolutely everything" into the show.

Dave Grohl, from the Foo Fighters became Macca’s surprise guest for, I Saw Her Standing There, and Band on the Run. Then the "boss" appeared - Bruce Springsteen, who performed a rousing duet with Macca singing harmony on Glory Days. Both looked utterly overjoyed to be on stage, as did the man himself - these appearances were the turning point, setting the tone for the final redemptive hour of the three hour set.

So what was not so good? Firstly, the band are amazing musicians, but they are not the Beatles - they don't have the simplicity, distinctiveness or the rawness, even though Paul was playing bass for a good part of the set. Perhaps more importantly, Paul's voice was really under par - I believe Glastonbury was the last night of a big tour... it showed - it was difficult to hear these classic songs once sung perfectly and harmoniously with John, now dropped in key so that Macca's voice could cope better..and that's what was he was doing - vocally only just coping.
He has been singing these songs for half a century, ....the original spark has to have dissipated - but this eventually, did not bother die hard fans.

What did seem to bother the audience, was that the first two hours of the show centred on more obscure songs - solo Macca tracks and Wings tracks - these only got a muted response - many were not feeling uplifted.

It was only after Glory Days did he lift a gear - moving on to a final hour of classic Beatles' songs - coming one after another - compelling, only for this reviewer, as deep nostalgia - to hear timeless songs performed again by a living legend - but still, none of the stage versions matched the originals.

There is no getting away that most who saw McCartney at Glastonbury that night, may not get chance to ever see him perform again – and that made the night more special, as did the sense of occasion and Paul's enthusiasm in talking to the Glastonbury crowd.

Have a listen on BBC I player and decide for yourself - perhaps if you look away from the screen, you may agree.